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The ACT Party on Foreign Policy and Trade
Act is a firm believer in free-markets and its policy background paper says, “New Zealand benefits from liberalisation moves by other countries, but a small country can reap most of the gains from free trade by simply removing its own trade barriers”.
An Act spokesman says the party supports New Zealand troops operating in Afghanistan. In 2005, Act leader Rodney Hide said “We need to double defence spending, provide a balanced defence force – including a combat air wing, and restore relations with our traditional allies, the United States and Australia”.
An Act spokesman says the party supports New Zealand troops operating in Afghanistan. In 2005, Act leader Rodney Hide said “We need to double defence spending, provide a balanced defence force – including a combat air wing, and restore relations with our traditional allies, the United States and Australia”.
An Act party spokesman says his party opposes increasing New Zealand’s overseas aid budget to 0.7 percent of GNI, but the party makes no mention of the issue in its 2008 campaign policy.
Act’s policy in this election is to “Strengthen bonds with the US”. In 2005 leader Rodney Hide said in a statement that “we need to... restore relations with our traditional allies, the United States and Australia”.
The Act party strongly supports signing an FTA with the US. It is a firm believer in free-markets and its policy specifically says: “US free trade deal would earn NZ $1b+ a year. More Kiwis exposed to US entrepreneurial skills”. Futher, it says that cutting tarrifs “would make it easier, not harder, to negotiate a wider trade agreement with the United States”.